South Dakota

"Officer Appel put on a mind blowing graduation for the first kids to graduate a D.A.R.E. program in Sisseton in 20 years. The ceremony included a full police escort with lights and sirens to the performing arts center. We were joined on stage by the Mayor,...

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While the school year is still young 5th graders at Custer Elementary School had a special graduation ceremony, and helped take part in a retirement as well. 5th graders completed the D.A.R.E. program today and received their diplomas from their retiring school D.A.R.E. officer, Chief Ranger Nancy Martinz. Martinz is retiring after 20 years of service to the Custer Elementary students.

After completing D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), a substance abuse prevention education program, during fifth grade, Mathias Hafner recently learned that the essay he wrote during the program won second place in a statewide contest.